Two New Aspergillus nidulans Group Members from Wyoming Soils

SUMMARYTwo new species in the Aspergillus nidulans group are described and compared with known related taxa. Aspergillus spectabilis, with tall conidiophores, broad green conidial columns and early-ripening cleistothecia shallowly embedded in a vinaceous Hülle-cell crust, may be most closely related to A. multicolor, A. crustosus (both nonascosporic), A. striatus and Emericella desertorum. Aspergillus bicolor is distinctive among all other recognized species in the complex in its development of tall conidiophores and columnar green heads on dilute media and in its production on malt agar of a floccose yellow felt which forms vinaceous Hülle-cell-cleistothecium aggregations aerially after growth for 4–6 wk. Ascospores in the latter species are produced sparingly, mature at 2–3 mo, are orange red, smooth or delicately roughened and have very low equatorial crests.